We stop at another gray door, but the top half is made of glass. Peeking inside, I see Jackson laying on his back with an IV in his arm. Julian is by his side, grasping his hand with his head down. I'm pretty sure they're both sleep. The sight warms my heart and I eagerly reach out for the door handle, wanting desperately to be apart of the moment. Kelen intercepts my hand, holding my wrist captive. I look at him with furrowed eyebrows.

"My key," is his simple request. I genuinely forgot about how I knocked him out and stole his key. Flushing a little, I dig into the pockets of my also stolen jacket and pull out the silver key. I drop it into his open hand, not meeting his eye. Turning back around to avoid his piercing stare, I once again reach for the handle. Looking through the window I see that Julian has his eyes on me.

Kelen stops me. Again. Bending down, he whispers in my ear, his breath sizzling my skin. "Your little trick was impressive, but next time I won't take it so easy, Jewel." My breath hitches, heart taking up a frenzied rhythm I hoped he couldn't hear. I shifted my head to the side to look at him, all too aware of Julian's narrowed eyes.

"Jewel?" He asked over his shoulder stopping from where he had begun to walk away. A butterfly was set loose in my stomach at the pet name.

"Yes?" I cursed myself at how weak my voice sounded.

"You look good in my jacket." And with that, he walked away. Watched him until the only sound in the hallway was my breathing, having returned to normal.

"What the hell was that?" Julian asked angrily, as he pulled the door open roughly causing me to stumble.

I could practically feel the butterfly's wing snapped in half.

〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰

"What do you mean you have five Beloveds of different species?!" Julian growled. I looked to Jackson for help but the look he gave me said he was wondering the same thing. Julian was fully healed, but Jackson was still a little shaky.

"I mean," I reiterated slowly, making him madder, "that I have five Beloveds. A Shadow Keeper, a human, a Lycan, a Fire Master, and a Questria."

He had been pacing the room, but at this his head snapped to me, eyes wide. "A Lycan. Are you serious? You're mated to our enemy, the ones that slaughter us like cattle?" He gives a snort of disbelief. "And a Questria huh? Those golden winged demons. Oh and let's not forget the fact that I can't even trust my own godamn shadow now!" I flinch back as he yells at me.

"Julian. Stop yelling at your sister," Jackson admonishes. Julian glares at him.

"You're ok with this!?"

Before he can answer I intervene, my voice low as my anger peeks through. "No, you don't get to question that. They're my mates. It's not for you to decide whether it's ok or not." Just because I'm a girl and I can be reserved at times, doesn't mean I won't kick his ass. We're siblings, we go at it plenty, but unlike pureblooded humans we can do serious damage.

Julian can sense the change in the air and his eyes turn yellow. "I'm your older brother! I will always have a say in your life and I say that you don't need four dangerous mates. They can hurt you and if they do I'll die trying to kill them."

"Julian!" Jackson shouts, but I cut him off, getting in Julian's face.

"I don't give a damn what you think. Your opinion is in black and white. If I choose to accept all my Beloveds there isn't a danm thing you can do about it," I know I'm throwing gasoline on the fire but I don't care. "And guess what? You're not going anywhere. We're snowed in. So as long as we're under their roof, you will stay in your place. As a pup."

"I won't allow my sister to be a blood sucking whore," he spits venomously. At the same time my heart drops at the weight of his words, I shift. Using all the rage boiling beneath my skin, I slap him across the face. The crack of his neck can be heard and he stumbles to the side.

Whoever said violence isn't the answer.....was wrong. It is when you're this mad; when you're not thinking clear.

I'm tackled from the side and we both crash to the ground. Julian's wolf is in my face, snarling and snapping it's jaws at me. Regardless of him being my brother, he is still a werewolf plain and simple. That meant that he didn't see it as his sister slapping him, he saw it as an enemy slapping him- or at least his wolf did.

"Get off of me. Now," I hiss, my fangs ready to rip him apart. Our fights weren't normal fights. It was a fight for dominance. Whoever pinned the other and made them submit won the argument. This, I could not loose.

Julian tried to go for my exposed neck, but I threw him to the side. He was back on all fours and lunging at me, however he hesitated; hesitated then back down completely, bowing his head in submission. I looked behind me to see a huge black Lycan with red eyes towering over the both of us. Marcus. And behind Marcus were the rest of the guys. Alaric cowering in the corner, Clent emitting enough steam to turn the room into a sauna, and Casbian glowing a bright gold that made him hard to look at. Kelen, however was the hardest one to see, being as I could only see the outline of his form. It looked like he was....glitching or maybe wavering like a flame. One second he was somewhat solid, shadows swirling around him, then the next he was gone.

"I understand that you want to protect your sister and we wouldn't have it any other way, but this is her decision. You can only give your opinion in the matter and even still it is her choice if it is even considered. What I will not allow is for you to threaten June, sibling or not." Kelen says from the shadows, his voice sounding ancient and seeming to be coming from every direction at once.

"I won't let her be your whore," Julian snarled, still struggling against Marcus's dominance. Kelen suddenly materializes behind Julian and takes him by the throat.

"Don't ever use the wretched word and her name in the same sentence again!" He booms and it echoes throughout the room. Alaric covers his ears and sinks further into the corner.

Me and you both buddy.

Once he nods his agreement, Kelen drops him and moves to me. I hesitated for a heart beat then put my hand in his. I didn't look solid, just shadowy, so I was surprised when as soon as our hands touch, his became flesh again. The true Kelen was back. I couldn't explain the feelings bombarding me in the moment.

Something wet pressed into my leg, making me jump a little. When I looked down I saw the adorable Marcus nudging me. Laughing a little I bend down and scratch behind his ear. His fur is so soft.

"Who's a good fluffy boy?" I tease. Marcus huffs at being called fluffy, but his tail thuds happily as I continue to scratch him.

"June?" I perk up at Jackson's voice. If I were him I'd probably be eating popcorn at our little dramatic fight, but instead he look conflicted.

"Yes Father?"

"I see how they already care for you. Your brother means well in his heart so you'll have to forgive him." Julian opens his mouth to object but is shut up by multiple growls. "You have my blessing if you so choose them." He then turns to Kelen. "Thank you for saving us from those rogues and everything else. When the snow clears we'll make our way back to the cabin."

Kelen nodded his agreement.

"For now we will all remain here, so let's call it a day. June, we would like to speak with you. Privately."

I nod and we all begin to file out. Before I leave though, I pause. Looking over my shoulder at my brother, now looking helpless, I say:

"I forgive you."